Eagles Hold Off Bobcats, 2-1

Hall Postgame Interview

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team snapped a mini two-game losing skid with a 2-1 victory over Ohio University Friday afternoon, Oct. 12, at Scicluna Field. Sophomore Bianca Rossi scored her sixth of the season including the game-winning goal and junior Cara Cutaia netted her fifth of the year.

The Eagles (8-5-1; 5-2-0 MAC) moved to 3-0 in conference home matches while maintaining their second-place position in the MAC West Division. The Bobcats (7-7-1; 2-4-1 MAC) dropped their second conference tilt in-a-row.

Cutaia gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute and Rossi made it a two-goal affair in the 36th minute. The Green and White had to hold off a pesky Ohio squad which outshot the Eagles, 5-2, in the second half and made it a one-goal game with 17 minutes to play in the contest.

Rossi also assisted on Cutaia's goal to earn the Mississauga, Ontario native a three-point afternoon. Sophomore Angela Vultaggio figured into the scoring with an assist on Rossi's game-winner. In goal, redshirt freshman Jenna O'Dell stopped seven-of-eight Bobcats' shots.

For Ohio, Veronica Rock scored her first of the season on an assist from Maggie Murnane. Goalkeeper Mattie Liston allowed two goals on five EMU shots.

Chelsie Oddan nearly broke the scoreless tie at the five-minute mark when she caught a pass up the middle. Oddan's shot rolled right to the keeper and the scoring threat was ended.

EMU eventually struck for a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute on Cutaia's fifth of the season. The play developed as Vultaggio ran into Bobcats' territory from the left side. Vultaggio's initial shot was deflected off the hands of Liston and back into the air, where Cutaia was waiting to head the ball into the goal.

Ohio came a goalpost shy of tying the score in the 35th minute when Erin Schwenke sent O'Dell diving to the right with a low shot. The ball hit the post and skipped through the goal mouth, where a second Bobcat tried to notch the equalizer. The play ended with an Ohio foul and the Eagles held on to a one-goal edge.

Rossi and Vultaggio hooked up to score the second goal of the game for EMU. Vultaggio played the ball back to the goal line and waited to pass to an open Rossi in the middle of the box. Rossi let off a booming shot which flew into the top-right corner of the goal with nine minutes remaining in the opening half.

Down a pair, the Bobcats applied some offensive pressure as the EMU attackers were kept at bay for a good portion of the second half. O'Dell came up with a save off a Cat Rogers' shot in the 70th minute to end one Ohio scoring threat.

In the 73rd minute, Rock made it a 2-1 game when she ripped a kick from 30 yards out over the head of O'Dell and into the upper-right corner of the goal. Following OU's tally, the Eagles' offense perked up and recorded the game's next three shots on goal. A solid header by Vultaggio in the 80th minute in front of the Ohio goal sailed high over the crossbar and out of play.

With less than eight minutes to play, O'Dell was called upon one final time to make a save when she denied Gabby Hausfeld's header attempt.

Eastern Michigan is back in action Sunday, Oct. 14, with a home match against Kent State University. Prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff, Jessica Thomas will be recognized in a Senior Day celebration.

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Team Stats

Bianca Rossi

Cara Cutaia

Angela Vultaggio

Chelsie Oddan

Eastern Michigan Athletics